Magnetawan River Interim Management Statement March 1, 2004 The Magnetawan River Provincial Park Interim Management Statement provides direction for the custodial management of Magnetawan River Provincial Park until such time as a Park Management Plan may be prepared. An Interim Management Statement, by design, is primarily an internal document intended to provide short-term guidance for Ontario Parks’ managers and staff. The Interim Management Statement will govern all activities occurring within the park and focus on custodial management required to protect park values and ensure public health and safety. Questions or requests for additional copies of this document should be directed to: Ontario Parks, Central Zone RR#3, 451 Arrowhead Park Road Huntsville, ON P1H 2J4 I am pleased to approve the Magnetawan River Provincial Park Interim Management Statement. _____________________________ Brian Pfrimmer, Manager Central Zone Ontario Parks Background Information Name Magnetawan River Provincial Park Classification Waterway Ecoregion / Ecodistrict 5E / 5E-7 OMNR Administrative Region / Southern Region / Parry Sound District District Total Area (ha) 3,424 Regulation Date June 28, 2003 Inventories Earth Survey Level Life Science Cultural Recreational Other Science Check Sheets / 2001 Inventories Reconnaissance 2003 Detailed 2002 2002 2002 Magnetawan River Provincial Park is situated within the Britt Domain, Algonquin Terrane, of the Central Gneiss Belt of the Proterozoic Grenville Province. It occupies Earth Science segments of several southeast-northwest and northeast- Representation southwest bedrock lineaments. The dominant rock types include deformed intermediate-mafic gneisses and metaquartzite and later pegmatites. The geology of the Park has regional significance. Recent surveys have identified 11 forest Ecosite Types, 8 forest understorey Vegetation Types and at least 287 vascular plant species. Most communities are in excellent Life Science Representation condition. Eleven species of herptiles, 84 species of birds and at least 16 species of mammals were recorded within the park. A reconnaissance inventory revealed a high potential for the presence of both pre- and post- contact sites of archaeological significance. The park also shows evidence Cultural Resources of logging, which occurred between 1850 and the 1920s Representation and had a major influence on settlement patterns in the region. Hunting, trapping and fishing occurred historically among First Nations and Europeans. Today, the Magnetawan River supports recreation and tourism. Canoeing, Camping, Kayaking, Swimming, Hunting, Recreational Opportunities Fishing, Nature Appreciation 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION 2.0 CLASSIFICATION On July 16, 1999, the Ontario Government Magnetawan River Provincial Park is released the Ontario’s Living Legacy Land classified as a Waterway class provincial Use Strategy to guide the planning and park in recognition of its outstanding natural management of Crown lands in central and and human heritage values. The park parts of northern Ontario. A major protects an important historical and component of the Land Use Strategy was a recreational water route that can provide government commitment to protect 12 high quality recreational and educational percent of Ontario’s Crown lands and waters experiences. within the planning area of the strategy. Magnetawan River Provincial Park is part of 3.0 BOUNDARY this significant expansion of Ontario’s protected areas system. The eastern boundary of Magnetawan River Provincial Park abuts Island Lake Forest Magnetawan River Provincial Park is located and Barrens Conservation Reserve in the in the Parry Sound District, within Brown, northeast corner of Burton Township (Figure Wallbridge, Harrison and Burton Townships 2). The park boundary extends west along (Figures 1 and 2). The northern and western the watercourse of both the North and South parts of the park are in unincorporated branches of the Magnetawan River, and territory, while the southwest and eastern includes the riverbed, Crown islands and sections are within the municipally shore lands up to 200 metres wide on either incorporated Township of the Archipelago side of the water's edge. Where the park and Municipality of Whitestone respectively. adjoins private lands, the boundary extends The park spans Ecodistrict 5E-7. to the water's edge. Magnetawan River Provincial Park protects Following the South Arm, the boundary dips an important ecological link between into the northeast corner of Harrison Noganosh Lake Provincial Park, Island Lake Township, encompassing Big Deep Bay, Forest and Barrens Conservation Reserve, Timber Wolf Lake and Lone Tree Lake Naiscoot Forest Conservation Reserve, and before continuing west along the South Wahwashkesh – Naiscoot Conservation branch of the Magnetawan to the western Reserve. Most of the lands surrounding the boundary at the American Trail Dam and park are within the Parry Sound Interior Eastern end of Miner Lake in Wallbridge Remote Access Enhanced Management Township. The boundary in this section of Area. the park is generally set back 120 metres from the water's edge. A small number of provincially rare species of plants, including several plants with Leaving Trout Lake the park boundary also Atlantic Coastal Plain affinities, and one follows the North branch of the Magnetawan provincially rare species of reptile were through Brown Township and around Island identified in the most recent survey of the Lake, before joining with the South branch at park. the American Trail Dam. The region in which Magnetawan River The park was regulated on June 28, 2003 Provincial Park is situated is also known to under Ontario Regulation No. 238/03 (see be of historical significance to both First Appendix A). Nations and European Settlers. The river has been an important travel route, and at 4.0 INTERIM MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES various times supported hunting, fishing, trapping, trade and logging. Today, the park Unless otherwise noted, the management provides excellent recreational opportunities policies for Waterway class parks, presented for many activities, including canoeing, in Ontario Provincial Parks: Planning and hunting, fishing and swimming. Management Policies (1992) will apply to the site. Management of the park will also 2 consider the land use direction outlined in of the area is poorly understood, and little the Ontario's Living Legacy Land Use research has been conducted within the Strategy, including its provisions to respect park specifically. A reconnaissance cultural the existing protective and restricted access resources inventory found that there measures defined for the Magnetawan remains significant potential for the region in the MNR Parry Sound District Land existence of sites of importance within the Use Guidelines (1983). park for both the pre- and post- contact periods. (Carscallen, 2003). While the approved Interim Management Statement is in effect, Ontario Parks may Given the limited understanding of the pursue opportunities for partnerships resources present, and the potential for involving other agencies and groups. Park important sites, further study of the park will management and stewardship will be be encouraged. Sites identified for physical contingent upon availability of funding and improvements in future management unforeseeable changes in priorities or policy. planning processes will be inspected for the All management and stewardship activities presence of cultural resources prior to will conform to the Environmental development. Assessment Act, Provincial Parks Act and other pertinent legislation. 4.3 Recreational Activities 4.1 Natural Resource Stewardship Canoeing, boating, and other low-impact recreational activities associated with it, The protection of provincially significant, such as swimming, hiking and general special or representative life and earth nature-appreciation will be permitted in science features will be a high priority for Magnetawan River Provincial Park. Magnetawan River Provincial Park. The continued use of existing campsites Management of the area will allow natural within the park boundary will be permitted on processes to continue to shape the ecology an interim basis until a management plan is of the park's aquatic and terrestrial prepared. Sites may be closed if it is environments wherever possible. A determined that use is causing a negative resource stewardship plan may be impact on the environment or protection considered if more detailed planning and objectives of the park. Alternate sites may management direction is required for be provided should the closure of an existing resource or heritage values of particular site(s) be required but, overall expansion of concern. camping opportunities will only be considered through a full management All fires will be suppressed due to the planning process. adjacent private land holdings. Fire management through prescribed burning will Existing authorized trails and portages can not be considered at this time. continue to be used. A trail assessment may be completed to review the existing trail To the extent possible, water levels will be structure and to provide appropriate allowed to fluctuate naturally to promote the recommendations. long-term viability of the Atlantic Coastal Plain communities found in Magnetawan As prescribed in Ontario’s Living Legacy River Provincial Park. Land Use Strategy, sport hunting and commercial trapping, except in nature The monitoring of flora and fauna reserve zones, and